WA GST deal: Productivity Commission hits back at Roger Cook as Anthony Albanese faces National Cabinet
The Productivity Commission has fired back at Roger Cook over his extraordinary ‘east coast clowns’ attack as the fight over WA’s GST deal intensifies.
A war of words has erupted between the Productivity Commission and Western Australia over GST distribution as the Prime Minister prepares to be confronted over the debate at a meeting with state and territory leaders today.
West Australian Premier Roger Cook this month described the federal agency as “east coast clowns” following a report which found the current GST carve-up was a “costly mistake” and recommended it be scrapped.
During a visit to Perth this week, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese vowed to keep WA’s existing share of the GST in place despite criticism from the PC and other state leaders, who will join him on Wednesday for a meeting of National Cabinet.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.One of the co-authors of the PC’s report, Angela Jackson, has now hit back at Premier Cook’s recent comments saying he has undermined the body’s integrity, and “crossed a line”.
“We are used to public debate. In fact, we welcome it at the Productivity Commission … it makes our work stronger”, Ms Jackson said on Monday.
“Our view is that a line was crossed in terms of the nature of those comments from the Western Australian premier.”
Ms Jackson also weighed in on Mr Albanese’s criticism that the commission was run by “economic rationalists”, saying: “the PM, of course, is always free to say what he will. There’s no issue with that, but that won’t impact our processes”.
Federal Resources Minister Madeleine King, who is from WA, also this week attacked the Productivity Commission’s interim report which recommended Labor wind back the GST deal.
“I don’t actually quite agree that it has gone through it as methodically as it might have,” Ms King told the ABC on Tuesday.
“When you look through the report, you’ll notice there’s zero reference to suggestions made by the WA government … there is barely a mention. So I think there’s a problem there.”
In a statement released on Tuesday, first reported by the Australian Financial Review, Productivity Commission deputy chairman Alex Robson who led the recent GST review also hit out at the WA and Federal governments.
“We are always happy to accept constructive criticism. That’s our job as an independent organisation that works for all Australians,” he said.
“This is a policy issue that should be vigorously debated, and we look forward to that engagement.
“However, I was very disappointed to see some of the inappropriate comments and language attacking the PC’s credibility, our integrity, and our staff.
“I totally reject those comments and the language used. It doesn’t advance the policy debate at all.”
Ahead of a meeting with the Productivity Commission on Wednesday, WA’s Treasurer Rita Saffioti warned GST review process was not over yet, so it was “important we to continue to present our economic arguments.”
“I will be meeting with them directly to again reiterate the economic arguments and the importance of keeping our current GST Deal. “We want the Productivity Commission’s final report to better reflect the key points we made in our submission”.
